Psyker Landshark

Bleach: Rise Of The New Generation

Nakajima Ageha

So she'd put herself ahead of the pack already, considering the inane questions the rest of this rabble were babbling. How many people he killed? What idiot kept count? Why he wore a mask? Who cared? What his Bankai was? If he actually told them, he didn't deserve to be a captain.

And then, in a moment of genuinely pleasant surprise to Ageha, she actually got a real answer and a compliment. She hadn't been expecting one. The entire intent here had been just to make herself known to the captain, at the very least. Ageha resisted the urge to display any smugness about the matter. There was no point in ruining any inroads she'd made because she somehow couldn't control her expression.

Kenpachi moved on to...ah. The meathead. Should have figured he'd be interested in the Eleventh, too. That...wasn't the worst outcome, really. He put up a real fight, and it was better to have an actual challenge to beat on than a human speedbag.

Back to what mattered, Ageha ran through Captain Kenpachi's criteria in her mind. The basics she already cleared easily. Strength? She had Shikai. That put her above the majority of the pack of cretins she'd graduated with. The will to fight? Oh, in spades and more. No, what mattered was what he was looking for in seated officers. She didn't intend to be an unseated pleb for longer than was strictly necessary.

Of course Ageha fought for something. It was what had motivated her to push through her family's training. Through the academy. Spite. And the desire to make her wreck of a childhood worth a damn. To be useful in some way. If she didn't go down this path, all the nonsense, idiocy, and borderline abuse she'd endured would have all been wasted in the end.

She narrowed her eyes, noting the alluring smell of grilled meat and fish wafting in the air and pushing past it. Later. There were more important things at hand.

"Then I'll just have to prove my worth. Now or at a later time, Captain?" She left it up to his discretion, of course. There was a fine line between displaying bravery and an insubordinate demand.

Iris Ascendis

Yeah same, I don't think I can really drag out the chapel scene for another round.

Bleach: Rise Of The New Generation

Nakajima Ageha

Sometimes, life was a bad joke. Like the idea of pushing your one and only hope of relevance so far past the breaking point that she decided to abandon all ties with you instead. Or, more pertinently, right now. When it turned out the strongest man in Soul Society and the head of the military was evidently an alcoholic buffoon. And a slob. Charming.

Ageha resisted the deep urge to react in any way, her expression stony as the speech ended and the crowd began to disperse around the festival. She could spy Abiko, from the academy, giving her a brief wave off from a distance away. A curt nod of acknowledgement was given in response, though her lip curled in slight distaste at his choice in company. Nonetheless, she continued on, her goal in mind.

There were other squads she didn't have a problem with joining. The Second and the Ninth wouldn't be objectionable. But if Ageha had a choice? She wanted the Eleventh. Frontline combat appealed to her. And so did the squad's culture. Live by the sword, die by the sword. There was a problem? You settled it through strength and skill. The cantankerous spirit of her Zanpakuto rumbled agreement at the notion, and Ageha swiftly tracked down the masked man serving as this generation's Kenpachi.

"Captain Kenpachi," Ageha snapped up into a crisp military salute. "Ageha, Squad Ten." No need to muddy the waters by bringing her noble family name into this. "I'll get to the point: what are you looking for in those who join the Eleventh?"

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ranbu no Izayoi

Led by Eve, Goug eventually made his way back to the Kirins, grumbling in both irritation and concern the whole while.

"Ack, couldn't have saved me some strain on the ol' heart, kupo? Thought I was gonna have to find me way back to Edren on my kupoin' own for a moment there."

Unable to travel too much farther for the day, the battered and exhausted Kirins made camp on the dunes.

When sunset came, Izayoi cleared her throat to get the party's attention before beginning to speak.

"I said I would explain, and I shall. That foe we faced used the corpse of the man who taught me the sword. And his skills, somehow. I am not so blind as to not recognize my own sword style, especially when used by the one who taught me to do so. The one I killed."

Fifteen years ago...

On her eighteenth birthday, Izayoi awoke to see her master looming over her. She blinked, one hand already reaching for her blade before the man stepped back, shaking his head.

“Not today, girl. Come. Morning meal is ready.”

“Master? You…made breakfast?” He hadn’t done that in years. Not since she insisted on taking over meal preparation duties, at the very least. She followed him out of her tent and into the harsh desert sunlight, wincing slightly.

“Eat.” Was all he said in response, sitting himself down at the fire where he partitioned out a bowl of rice and a grilled hare for each of them. Izayoi could only sigh and acquiesce in response, sitting down and reaching for her pair of chopsticks before starting to dig in. Of course he never bothered explaining anything that wasn’t relayed to swordplay.

“There’s a reason I took over cooking for us, Master.” Izayoi said between bites, a slight glower on her face. “It was kind of you to do this for my nameday, but please don’t do this again next year. The rice is mushy and the hare is half-burnt.”

“Impertinent girl.” Her teacher huffed in response, finishing his meal with no complaint. “Follow me when you cease complaining.” He stood, setting the bowl and utensils aside before picking his sword up. “I will wait for you out on the dunes. Bring your sword.”

___

Ten minutes later, Izayoi stood facing her master out on the desert dunes, each of them holding a sheathed sword in their hand.

“Ten years.” Her master drawled, his gaze looking down upon her from a distance. “I have trained you for ten long years. Ever since I found you in the wreckage of that caravan.”

“Is this going somewhere?” Izayoi huffed, rolling her eyes. “Or are you growing sentimental in your old age?” Ignoring the fact that the pale, blonde giant of a man looked near forty at worst.

“Tell me,” He continued, ignoring her complaints. “Have you ever wondered who exactly attacked that caravan? Killed your family?”

“...Master?”

“This is my namesday gift to you, girl. The truth. I attacked that caravan. I put your family to the sword. Every last one of them except you.”

Izayoi’s breath hitched. Her pupils dilated. The grip on her sword went slack.

“You…this isn’t funny, Master.”

“I am not lying to you, girl. You lived through sheer coincidence. Did you honestly believe I wouldn’t have found the so-called bandits I told you were responsible? Had any existed, we would have tracked them down within mere days.”

“Then, w-why did you-”

“Spare you? Train you?” A cruel smirk crossed his face. “It amused me. I wanted to see what I could make of a random child that crossed my path. To see if she could be forged into a hunter. A predator. It fills you even now, doesn’t it? The hunger. To bite down on my jugular. To feel the warmth fill your mouth and run over, even as you drink deep. Good. Good…”

Izayoi’s expression went feral, and she reached for her sword with a wordless scream.

___

She was going to die. Worse, she was going to lose. Izayoi had endured hellish training and combat for ten years. Her master had been practicing swordplay for at least twice that time. Oh, she was swifter than him, certainly. But not enough to make up for his advantages in reach, strength, and combat experience.

“Traitor! Murderer! Monster!” Izayoi howled as her series of strikes were all parried before she was forced back on the defensive again, desperately guarding and evading.

“Yes, YES!” Her master cackled in glee, nothing but joy in his eyes. “This is the battle I have wanted for so long! The challenge! Dig deeper, girl! You can give me more! I trained you better than this! Must I force it out of you?!”

His sandal slammed into Izayoi’s gut, creating distance between them as he sheathed his sword. Her eyes widened. She knew what was coming. In sheer desperation, she sheathed her own blade. They met each other’s eyes. They charged. They drew.

___

Izayoi stood over her master’s dying form, her sword raised in both hands.

“What’s wrong, girl?” The man rasped, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. “Finish it. Ignore any sentiment you have left. I killed your parents, your siblings. The boy screamed for mercy, you know.”

“...Boy?” Izayoi blinked. “I never had a brother.” A resigned sigh was the only answer she received. Her grip on her sword slackened. “Master…don’t tell me…”

“To be caught at the very end.” He smirked ruefully, closing his eyes. “How clumsy of me.”

“You lied?” She spat incredulously, hurling her sword to the side as she knelt down, trying to press against the deep gash she’d put into his chest. “What in the Mother’s name is wrong with you?! Why would you ever try to make me think you killed my family?”

“It was the only way you would ever face me with all of your might. Girl. Izayoi. I have wanted to die since long before we met. This empty, ephemeral world has never held a single worthy hunt for me. Nothing to provide challenge. Substance. You were my last hope. To craft my killer with mine own hands. You are not as I am. You would never have agreed to face me with all you had without sufficient motive. Without sheer rancor.”

“You’re insane.” Tears began to flow from Izayoi’s eyes, unbidden. “This is…this is the worst namesday present I’ve ever heard of. You can’t just die on me. Not without making up for this travesty.”

“I can only thank you. This is all I have ever wanted. To die in one last, worthy battle. The only one I have ever had in my life. Hear me, my apprentice. Endure. Survive. Live. For the rush of blood, for the time between the seconds, live. For whatever reason you forge for yourself, live. Carry what I have taught you, and take what you will from this world. That is the last gift I leave you…” He trailed off, his voice quieting as he took his last breath.

Izayoi stared down at the corpse, the midday sun burning down upon her as she beat her fists against it, sobbing.

Izayoi refused to say anything further on the matter after that, turning in early for the night with nary another word.

___

Days later, with little else in the way of options, the party returned to Kugane for the moment to regroup, recover, and plan their next move. With Ciradyl and Chisaki's aid, they made their way past the Valheimr checkpoints once more and met up with Hien in a different safehouse, this time in the western section of the city.

One summary of what they learned later, and Hien groaned to himself, holding his head in one hand as the other rapped his knuckles against the low table they all sat around.

"This is...a bit much to take in. However, I trust your word, especially that of Izayoi and Lady Ciradyl. I'll admit, I would have liked to employ your collective services for longer. But I've no hold over any of the lot of you." He rolled a map of the continent out across the table, pondering.

"I'll be frank: Edren is less of a going concern than the other two nations. It still bears strong leadership and signifcant military force.
Drana Asnaeu's ability to withstand a full-scale invasion in search of its crystal is my foremost worry regarding this scenario. Were I the one looking in on the opposite end of this situation, it would almost certainly be my next target. Unfortunately, reports from my informants say Valheim's been reinforcing the southwest border for weeks now. You'll not be able to get ahead of them on foot, and we've little access to ships. What captains are in our pocket are already occupied with missions of their own and, hm..." He paused, rubbing his chin.

"Give me a day or two to make some inquiries. In the meantime, the lockdown around the city has eased up, and Reisa herself has been reported to have left Kugane for the moment. Take some rest, you all have more than earned it."

SPIRITUM

Kalina Kovalic

Even Director Veld of all people wanted the princess treated with kid gloves, huh? Fine, Kalina would acquiesce. Not that she gave a damn, but orders were orders. Regardless, once she helped everyone patch the truck up as best they could, Kalina took the wheel once more, giving the engine a few brief revs to test it. Probably wouldn't give out on them anytime soon. Probably. Chassis was still a going concern, but as Gerard opined, there weren't any better options available at the moment.

"Pile in." Kalina grunted to the others. Once they'd all done so, she got them back on the road, not going quite as fast as she had been the previous day, but still enough to maintain a decent pace.

"Does it matter?" She pitched in to the conversation about their chances of making it to Dunbarton without further conflict. "We'll handle it. Besides, the closer we get to a city like Dunbarton, the better the chance that airship gets in the range of AA."

Kalina glanced up in the rear view mirror to where the princess was sitting, tactlessly barreling forward in the conversation.

"So, Princess. Any idea who wants you dead this badly? As I understand it, you're no one important in the line of succession."

Rise of Rasalhague

Jaromir Zhu

"God damn it!" Jaromir cursed as he ducked into cover the moment he realized they were under attack, his pistol drawn. He tried to draw a bead and get a few shots off, but the range of the firefight was such that he didn't land anything. Didn't matter in the end, considering the pirates bugged out in a Leopard. One that hooked up to a JumpShip and got the hell out of dodge.

...Wait, that last sequence of events didn't add up. What the fuck? Considering the current state of politics and their employer, Jaromir's first line of thought was Kurita or Lyran plot. It made sense.

That train of thought lasted about as long as it took to examine exactly what the pirates had left behind. To keep up with the metaphor, the revelation that they were transporting ancient Mech parts shook the train slightly, but didn't derail the theory yet. Bizzare, but combined with the JumpShip, it raised questions. Questions that were fit for people that were actually paid to give a damn, admittedly.

"Right, now comes the good part of the job." Jaromir grinned slightly at the thought of loot, before glancing over to the CO.

"How much salvage rights did our contract state, anyway?"

Iris Ascendis

Iraleth Kyrios

Iraleth afforded the professor no further words, waiting until he left the chapel before she returned to a kneeling position, contemplating what the man had just said to her.

This notion of letting Umbralists be went against everything she personally believed. What, were they supposed to wait until after the tragedy had occurred to stop it? Iraleth wasn't so selfish as to risk the lives of others just so she could feel better about not having possibly killed one that had done no wrong. And yet...

Yet that's not on her, she wasn't even born when things went wrong.

She grit her teeth, scowling. No, it didn't matter. This was duty. This was what had to be done. It was, wasn't it?

Iraleth returned to her prayer and meditation, yet Professor Alto's words never quite left her head...

Bleach: Rise Of The New Generation

Nakajima Ageha

Nakajima Ageha

Appearance:
Stands at 5'7". Lithe, athletic build, narrow bust. Long black hair, pale skin, and a baleful glare. Gives off harsh vibes as one would expect of a noble.

Age:
192

Squad/Rank:
Squad Ten/Unseated

Biography:
Born into the lower noble house of the Nakajima family, Ageha was raised from birth with severe expectations once her Reiatsu was sensed. The Nakajima clan had long sought glory of its own, as its heyday had long passed, with only middling Shinigami being admitted to the ranks of the Gotei from their family for generations. With this in mind, the family's latest scion was given harsh training in combat, politics, and administration practically since she could walk.

While Ageha met every expectation placed upon her, it wasn't without cost. Years of nothing but brutal instruction and relentless expectations with little in the way of proper familial support or affection rendered Ageha cold, spiteful, and hard. She entered Shin'o Academy with this mindset, making few friends, more than a few enemies, and excelling in Zanjutsu in particular.

Ageha graduated, pleasing her family. But unbeknowst to them, she'd long since decided to go her own way. The instant she left the Academy, all contact from her ceased. Restoring the glory of the Nakajima clan meant nothing to her. Not after what they had put her through. It had worked, to be certain. But that wasn't her problem. She'd find her own purpose. And she'd find it within the Gotei. There wasn't anywhere else for her to go, and frankly, she did enjoy actually utilizing the abilities she'd spent so long honing.

Squad Interests:

• Eleventh
• Second
• Ninth

Relationships:

• Yuto: Dumb muscle. Good for a spar, and he's refreshingly blunt, but that's about all he's useful for. That, and him being somehow worse than her at Kido makes Ageha feel better about herself.
• Kobe Abiko: Practically an infant, considering he's fresh in from the world of the living. It's for that reason alone that Ageha took pity on him and gave him some pointers when he seemed lost. At least he knows to make an effort.
• Asami: Annoying little bitch. Ageha can respect that she's good at what she does, but otherwise, the two are too similar in outward personality to do anything but clash against each other.

Zanpakuto

Zanpakuto Name:
Tetsu Moya (TL: Iron Haze)

Type:
Power

Kaigo:
"Rend and bite, Tetsu Moya."

Zanpakuto Appearance:

Sealed

Shikai

Zanpakuto Spirit

Inner World

Shikai Skills:

• Hagane Owaru: Tetsu Moya's blade separates into multiple, allowing its wielder to split the large dadao into smaller blades. Can be utilized for such purposes as splitting into two blades for dual wielding, or separating into multiple knives for throwing purposes, among other uses.
  Duration: Passive
  Cooldown: Two turns
• Reforge: Call any discarded segments of Tetsu Moya back to the primary blade, reforming the dadao in mere moments.
  Duration: Passive
  Cooldown: One turn

Attributes

Kido: Novice
Bakudo: Sai, Hainawa, Seki
Hado: Sho, Byakurai, Shakkaho

Zanjutsu: Good
Hōzuri, Shitonegaeshi

Hakuda: Average
Tesshō

Hoho: Good
Shunpo

Points:
Saved: 0
Invested: 0

Other

Voice claim: Erica Lindbeck

Bleach: Rise Of The New Generation

Nakajima Ageha

Nakajima Ageha

Appearance:
Stands at 5'7". Lithe, athletic build, narrow bust. Long black hair, pale skin, and a baleful glare. Gives off harsh vibes as one would expect of a noble.

Age:
192

Squad/Rank:
Squad Ten/Unseated

Biography:
Born into the lower noble house of the Nakajima family, Ageha was raised from birth with severe expectations once her Reiatsu was sensed. The Nakajima clan had long sought glory of its own, as its heyday had long passed, with only middling Shinigami being admitted to the ranks of the Gotei from their family for generations. With this in mind, the family's latest scion was given harsh training in combat, politics, and administration practically since she could walk.

While Ageha met every expectation placed upon her, it wasn't without cost. Years of nothing but brutal instruction and relentless expectations with little in the way of proper familial support or affection rendered Ageha cold, spiteful, and hard. She entered Shin'o Academy with this mindset, making few friends, more than a few enemies, and excelling in Zanjutsu in particular.

Ageha graduated, pleasing her family. But unbeknowst to them, she'd long since decided to go her own way. The instant she left the Academy, all contact from her ceased. Restoring the glory of the Nakajima clan meant nothing to her. Not after what they had put her through. It had worked, to be certain. But that wasn't her problem. She'd find her own purpose. And she'd find it within the Gotei. There wasn't anywhere else for her to go, and frankly, she did enjoy actually utilizing the abilities she'd spent so long honing.

Squad Interests:

• Eleventh
• Second
• Ninth

Relationships:

• Yuto: Dumb muscle. Good for a spar, and he's refreshingly blunt, but that's about all he's useful for. That, and him being somehow worse than her at Kido makes Ageha feel better about herself.
• Kobe Abiko: Practically an infant, considering he's fresh in from the world of the living. It's for that reason alone that Ageha took pity on him and gave him some pointers when he seemed lost. At least he knows to make an effort.

Zanpakuto

Zanpakuto Name:
Tetsu Moya (TL: Iron Haze)

Type:
Power

Kaigo:
"Rend and bite, Tetsu Moya."

Zanpakuto Appearance:

Sealed

Shikai

Zanpakuto Spirit

Inner World

Shikai Skills:

• Hagane Owaru: Tetsu Moya's blade separates into multiple, allowing its wielder to split the large dadao into smaller blades. Can be utilized for such purposes as splitting into two blades for dual wielding, or separating into multiple knives for throwing purposes, among other uses.
  Duration: Passive
  Cooldown: Two turns
• Reforge: Call any discarded segments of Tetsu Moya back to the primary blade, reforming the dadao in mere moments.
  Duration: Passive
  Cooldown: One turn

Attributes

Kido: Novice
Bakudo: Sai, Hainawa, Seki
Hado: Sho, Byakurai, Shakkaho

Zanjutsu: Good
Hōzuri, Shitonegaeshi

Hakuda: Average
Tesshō

Hoho: Good
Shunpo

Points:
Saved: 0
Invested: 0

Other

Voice claim: Erica Lindbeck

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Cid's face ran through a gamut of emotions at Eve's words. Anger, concern, sympathy, all shown in turn before he eventually nodded.

"I was aware of this possibility. It certainly explains why I felt Bahamut's essence up above earlier. To create life unbidden by the order of the Mother and the Seven is a sin, but the beings artificed from such sin do not inherit it. Lest they choose to do so, of course. To be as you are is no crime, girl. You did not choose to inherit the Dreadwyrm's essence. However," He closed his eyes briefly, shaking his head.

"My magics detected no trace of Odin's power. Whatever it is you faced, it has naught to do with the Eidolons."

"Undead." Izayoi cut in, her gaze far off. "It must be. I killed him. I buried him."

"A soulless affront to Etro's order." Cid's expression darkened. "Regardless, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we return to the matter at hand." His gaze swept out over the party, softening slightly at Rudolf's troubled expression, though he said nothing further to him for now. Instead, Cid slumped slightly, his age showing.

"Four elemental crystals across the continent channel the light of the gods and convert it to the flow of elemental aether that balances and regulates nature. Water in Drana Asaneu flows to nourish the land. Wind in Skael carries the seeds of life wheresoever it blows. Earth in Edren cultivates and shelters that life. Fire in Osprey brings about cleansing destruction so that new life is free to flourish."

"Valheim cannot be allowed to seize the crystals. Here in Osprey, the Crystal of Fire is already lost to their clutches. For the moment, you must travel to each crystal in the other nations and ensure that they do not fall to darkness and Blight. Be warned, however: each elemental crystal has a guardian. Judging by their charges' corruption, they may also become equally as Blighted. Should that be the case, you must slay them. The Fire Crystal's guardian is...already lost to us." Cid shook his head mournfully at that before steeling himself.

"I would advise caution. Valheim knows of the importance of the crystals as well, and will surely send their forces to seize them. Now," He rose, supporting himself up to his feet with his staff. "That is all the guidance I possess to provide for the moment. From this point onward, the rest is up to you. Though I can speed your way to the surface-"

WHAM.

The doors of the cathedral slammed open, revealing the Revenant, sword in hand. Cid's eyes widened in alarm, and he brandished his staff aloft with one hand.

"Abomination! You will not pass one step further into sacred ground!" He slammed the butt of his staff onto the floor, and firey aether welled up around him. "By covenant, by binding, I call upon flame and fury! Lord of hellfire! I summon thee, come, Ifrit!"

A horned, demonic beast emerged in a burst of flame, roaring in savage fury at the Revenant. Izayoi moved to draw her sword as well, but froze as she saw a magic glyph emerge into existence below not just herself, but every single Kirin as well.

"What...?"

"Fly, all of you! You are in no condition to face a foe of this magnitude!" Cid bellowed back in the direction of the party, gesturing Ifrit forward to lunge towards the armored titan. "You are this continent's first and final hope! I will not see you lost!"

Izayoi snarled in fury as the teleport circles began to activate, Ifrit's fist bearing down all the while. The last thing any Kirin saw before the world faded into a flash of white was the Revenant dashing past and inside Ifrit's attack range to deliver a slash that sent the Eidolon of flame crashing back among the pews of the cathedral, Cid gritting his teeth in determination all the while.

___

When the Kirins next opened their eyes, they found themselves back on the surface, the ruins of the village barely on the horizon. In comparison, the airship supporting the Revenant was but a speck in their eyes. Too far away to have any chance of making it back for an assault from the party before night fell or it left the area.

Izayoi regained her bearings, looking around with her expression still furious for but a few moments before she seemed to deflate, weary and still barely able to stand.

"I suppose you have questions for myself specifically." She looked back toward the others, exhausted. "Considering what we were just told...I require time to marshal my own thoughts. Once we make camp, I will provide what I know of," Her breath caught slightly, and she turned away. "Him."